London has been battered by 50mph winds that have felled trees and caused travel chaos. Powerful gusts swept across the capital as the Met Office issued a yellow "be aware" weather alert for most of the country.

Families of the Germanwings crash victims may have to wait up to four months for their remains to be identified.

Capital live - the best news and pictures from London

Welcome to the Standard's daily blog - a Londoner's live guide to the breaking stories in our city, important travel updates and the best of the capital's culture and parties from our award-winning team of critics and diarists. Email your news and pictures to blog@standard.co.uk.

3rd & 7 37yd

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Welcome to this morning's live blog. In the papers this morning: as Lord McAlpine threatens to sue the Twitter users who falsely linked him to child sex abuse claims, Sally Bercow - one of the those who did so - reacts on the micro-blogging site: "*gulps*". Later, she added: "I guess I'd better get some legal advice then. Still maintain was not a libellous tweet - just foolish."

by Rosamund Urwin11/16/2012 9:17:06 AM

by Rosamund Urwin11/16/2012 9:18:07 AM

Skating at Somerset House launched last night. Amanda Byram was there, but I'm not sure who she is, and I don't think I care enough to google.

by Rosamund Urwin11/16/2012 9:34:03 AM

So let's just have a picture of people ice-skating instead.

by Rosamund Urwin11/16/2012 9:34:34 AM

by Rosamund Urwin11/16/2012 9:50:45 AM

by Rosamund Urwin11/16/2012 10:37:53 AM

by Rosamund Urwin11/16/2012 10:56:57 AM

by Rosamund Urwin11/16/2012 11:02:57 AM

In the ES today: the horror of a Camden mother as a giant rat mauls her baby as it sleeps peacefully in her cot

by Rosamund Urwin11/16/2012 12:01:53 PM

And the ES splash: London plagued by crime menace of iPhone muggers on bikes

- Fastest growing crime spree plaguing smart-phone users- 28,800 stolen between April and September- Tube stations are hotspots for theft- Police advise public not to text and walk at same time

by Rosamund Urwin11/16/2012 12:04:50 PM

by Rosamund Urwin11/16/2012 12:05:22 PM

MISSING PERSON

Adam Connolly, a 29-year-old from Hackney has been missing since Wednesday morning. He was last seen riding his bike just north of Clapton Pond. Friendly Fires have started a Facebook campaign to help find their friend. Please ring Missing Persons if you have any information at all (calls are confidential and free) on 116000.

by Kate Lough11/16/2012 1:04:20 PM

by Kate Lough11/16/2012 1:08:21 PM

MATTER OF LOVE AND DEATH

Michael Haneke's new film has just been awarded another 5 STAR REVIEW, this time by David Sexton of the ES. Sexton says:

So not a barrel of laughs, Amour, not a fun night out or a great date movie. It confronts you not just with this death but with your own death. Not a horror film, a terror film, be advised. But it is unequivocally a masterpiece.

Jean-Louis Trintignant as Georges and Emmanuelle Riva as his stricken wife Anne

by Kate Lough11/16/2012 1:39:00 PM

GET YOUR SKATES ON

You know Christmas is really coming when Somerset House opens up its ice skating rink. A whole host of stars turned up last night for the first skate of the season, including Ellie Goulding and Jeremy Irvine who were spotted holding hands on the ice. For @ESgoingout's guide to where to skate in London, click HERE.

by Kate Lough11/16/2012 1:53:54 PM

Songstress Ellie Goulding and actor Jeremy Irvine guide each other round the rink at Somerset House last night... are you thinking what we're thinking...?

by Kate Lough11/16/2012 1:54:19 PM

BABY, IT'S COLD OUTSIDE

If skating's a bit too strenuous, you might like to celebrate the wintery weather with an artery-clogging fondue. It's much easier to find bowls of melted cheese in London than you might think. To read @ESgoingout's five best restaurants for fondue click HERE.

by Kate Lough11/16/2012 2:15:12 PM

TO GET YOU IN THE FONDUE MOOD...

by Kate Lough11/16/2012 2:19:39 PM

THIS IS OUR FRIDAY JAM

by Kate Lough11/16/2012 2:25:36 PM

GRACE AND FLAVOUR

In this week's ES magazine, Grace Dent has a boozy lunch at Hackney's L’entrepôt that would be great, she says, if the staff gave a toss.

L’entrepôt, I’ll cut to the chase: your food is delicious but if you want to be a bistro, then be one. Shove your radiators on and pull your finger out.

If you want to get in with the ramen crew (chicken is so last week), get down to new Soho ramen bar, SHORYU - their 50 per cent soft launch offer finishes today:

‏@shoryuramen

Last day of our 50% off soft launch discount. Ramen has a rough 10% off from tomorrow to 23/11 (£1 on all bowls). 11-7pm [closed 3:30-5pm].

by Kate Lough11/16/2012 2:52:42 PM

SNEAK PEEK

In tonight's ES mag we've got Tamasin Day-Lewis on her rather famous brother, Grimmers on his favourite London places and 10 minutes with Kim Kardashian...

by Kate Lough11/16/2012 3:17:32 PM

WEEKEND PARTYING

@ESgoingout has spent hours and hours looking up the best dancefloors for you lot to hit this weekend. From hip-hop in Notting Hill to 80s cheese in Mayfair, we've got Friday and Saturday (and even Sunday if you can handle it) nights done and dusted. You're welcome. Read the guide HERE.

by Kate Lough11/16/2012 3:38:55 PM

THAT COAT LOOKS COSY...

by Kate Lough11/16/2012 3:45:08 PM

ANIMAL HOUSE

If you like our Arctic fox below, you will LOVE the Standard's new picture gallery: Animals of the week

by Kate Lough11/16/2012 3:55:37 PM

HOT NEW RESTAURANTS

On Monday, Alan Yau (Hakkasan and Yauatcha) opens Naamyaa, a Bangkok-style cafe in Angel. For more hot November openings, click HERE.

by Kate Lough11/16/2012 4:01:29 PM

HOT WEEKEND TICKETS

We couldn't leave without saying goodbye and leaving you with a little something. Our critics have rounded up the best of this weekend's offerings from comedy to gigs via exhibitions. Read it HERE.